Mark Gerald Photographs an Array of Psychoanalyst Spaces

Mark Gerald photographs the sacred safe haven that is "the shrinks office" in a project titled, 'In the Shadow of Freud's Couch.' As a psychoanalyst and photographer, this project successfully merges his two interests. The series originated -- and got its title from -- Gerald's reaction to a photograph of Freud's consulting room.

Explaining the intent of the project, Gerald says, "The subject of the psychoanalyst is fascinating because of its traditional posture of neutrality. The analyst and the analytic space, as represented physically by the office, occupy a very private domain. The person and the room have been thought to exist as a blank screen for patients to project their transferences and fantasies upon."

In terms of patterns, Gerald notes that offices located in warmer climates, or within low-density populations, tend to be more open.